preserve with sugar; "Mom always conserved the strawberries we grew in the backyard"

use cautiously and frugally; "I try to economize my spare time"; "conserve your energy for the ascent to the summit"

keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction; "We preserve these archeological findings"; "The old lady could not keep up the building"; "children must be taught to conserve our national heritage"; "The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts"

keep constant through physical or chemical reactions or evolutionary change; "Energy is conserved in this process"

secure and keep for possible future use or application; "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree"

allow to remain in a place or position; "We cannot continue several servants any longer"; "She retains a lawyer"; "The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff"; "Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on"; "We kept the work going as long as we could"